Chapter 42
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The evening sky was ablaze with red, and the setting sun’s light made the chestnut-colored horse even more vivid.
“Philotte, didn’t you go hunting?” Andre came back satisfied with three or four prey dragged behind his horse, only to find Li Xi standing alone at the exit, which surprised him.
“No,” Li Xi yawned. “Not interested.”
Although he said that, his gaze swept past Andre’s prey.
“The quality of the game this time is very good. It’s rare to have such an opportunity. It would be a pity to return empty-handed.” Andre approached. “How about I give you one?”
“Who said I’m going back empty-handed?” Li Xi glanced disdainfully at the person Andre had dragged over with his whip.
“Is it that guy Soren…?” Andre frowned.
“It has nothing to do with him,” Li Xi replied impatiently.
Lately, he had been feeling like he had forgotten something, but no matter how much he recalled or asked others, he got no answers. So, his mood wasn’t very pleasant. That’s why his elder brother suggested he go hunting with members of other affiliated families to change his mood.
Thinking of the special prey he had seen today, Li Xi’s heart stirred, and his feeling of boredom inexplicably dissipated a bit.
Soren returned on horseback, with only one person behind him.
Andre mocked, “Just this?”
“This is enough.” Soren smiled faintly.
The person behind him kept their head down, covered in dirt and crushed leaves, as if they had been running for quite some time before being caught.
“Wait a moment,” Li Xi frowned.
“Is there more prey coming to us voluntarily?” Andre asked suspiciously.
“Prey doesn’t come voluntarily.” Li Xi smirked. “But attendants do.”
He looked at the person emerging from the forest, a radiant smile appearing on his handsome face. “Let me introduce you. This is my new attendant.”
“What? You took a prey as your attendant?” Andre asked anxiously, jealousy evident in his gaze directed at Duan Zhen. “He’s just a prey… even if he’s outstanding in appearance and demeanor, he’s not worthy of your status!”
“Do I need your permission even to take an attendant?” Li Xi’s smile faded, ignoring Andre and instead saying to Duan Zhen, “Follow me.”
The captured prey would be put into cages and transported back together. Li Xi furrowed his brows, looking at Duan Zhen’s dirty clothes, and said, “You go with them first.”
“Yes,” Duan Zhen turned around and entered the cage with the bound person.
He chose a position near the Soren guy’s prey and glanced at the smart wristband on the person’s wrist.
He had observed others capturing prey while evading. Andre and Soren were both skilled, but capturing the leader of a small team was obviously not enough. This meant that this person was deliberately caught for information.
Duan Zhen remained silent. Through his probing, he knew that the two men had very sensitive hearing, and even their weapons emitted a faint light during attacks, causing harm to anyone in its path.
This was likely not a simple Western country background.
Sitting in the cage, the other three prey were ragged, huddling together and shivering, murmuring something incomprehensible. Duan Zhen glanced outside, making sure the three people on the other side weren’t looking, before lightly tapping the shoulder of the person beside him and mouthing, “Cooperate?”
After about two sticks of incense had burned, they passed through a city gate. Inside the gate was an incredibly bustling city, appearing more advanced than the Middle Ages. The streets were clean, and stone and wooden buildings intermingled. Many young women covered their faces with fans or handkerchiefs, sneaking glances at this side.
Duan Zhen could sense that their focus was on Li Xi.
He also looked over, and from this angle, he could only see the slender back of the youth lazily sitting on the horseback, with straight, slender legs outlined by the riding boots.
For some reason, he felt like looking at a child that had grown up.
At a crossroads, Soren bid farewell with his prey first, then Andre left from the other side.
“Get off, we’re almost there,” Li Xi dismounted, surveying Duan Zhen standing beside him, furrowing his brows. “Stand further away, you’re too dirty.”
Duan Zhen obediently stepped back.
They eventually arrived at what could now be called a mansion. Upon entering the gates, the first thing that caught the eye was a courtyard that seemed to stretch endlessly. A middle-aged man with a kind face approached, taking the reins from Li Xi’s hand. “Lord Hewlett is waiting for you in the dining hall.”
“This is my newly acquired attendant. Take him to bathe and change into clean clothes, then send him to my room.” Li Xi nodded, pushing Duan Zhen out.
“Yes, sir,” the steward nodded.
Duan Zhen had just heard Hewlett’s name, and his pupils constricted, but he could only suppress his unease for now and walk with the steward to the other side.
“You were brought back from the hunting grounds by Lord Lance. It’s a great honor for Lord Lance to take you as his attendant. Recognize your identity.” Once away from Li Xi, the steward immediately changed his tone, scrutinizing Duan Zhen critically. “You still have a presentable demeanor.”
“I will serve Lord Lance to the best of my ability.” Duan Zhen took the opportunity to inquire about information. “But I come from humble origins and am not familiar with the situation here. I’m afraid of offending the lords.”
The steward gave Duan Zhen a skeptical glance but didn’t see anything unusual. He nodded. “You’re right. I’ll have someone explain the rules of the ducal mansion to you.”
The duke… Duan Zhen’s expression shifted.
After changing into a black attendant’s uniform, he also obtained the information he wanted from a nearby servant.
Here, Li Xi’s identity was the second son of the duke, Lance Philotte. Hewlett was the eldest son of the duke and the heir. And the duke himself was not in the ducal mansion at the moment; apparently, he had received a summons from the king a few months ago and had gone to the royal capital.
The two people who accompanied Li Xi today were peers from affiliated families, and according to the steward, they were just there to save face and shouldn’t be taken too seriously.
“The duke dotes on Lord Lance greatly.” The servant said, “If not for the sake of Lord Lance… he wouldn’t have been unable to return for several months on orders from the king.”
He spoke vaguely in the middle, and Duan Zhen furrowed his brows. “What’s wrong with Lord Lance?”
“In any case, don’t mention his eyes in front of Lord Lance.” The servant avoided the topic.
What’s wrong with Li Xi’s eyes? Duan Zhen’s heart tightened slightly, but then he thought it should be part of the game’s setting and relaxed.
“Lord Lance requests your presence in his room.” The servant led him to a door and pushed it open. “Go in, and without Lord Lance’s orders, do not come out.”
As the night grew deeper, Duan Zhen entered the room. Turning to look at the servant, he found the figure obscured in the shadows, giving off an eerie vibe. The darkness seemed thick and oppressive, as if something could emerge from it at any moment.
The servant’s voice became distorted. “Wa…it…here…for…Lord Lance…”
With that, he slammed the door shut, leaving Duan Zhen trapped in the darkness.
Author’s note:
In this world, some of Li Xiao Xi’s background will be revealed. Also, to prevent confusion, I’ll let everyone know in advance that Li Xiao Xi’s real name is Lance Senafel Philotte. Philotte is his surname.
Yikes that ending was kinda creepy lol Also, Hewlett is definitely involved as it seems I wonder if it’s because Li Xi interfered in the previous instance or if Clemens roped him into it…
Thank you for reading
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
The evening sky was ablaze with red, and the setting sun’s light made the chestnut-colored horse even more vivid.
“Philotte, didn’t you go hunting?” Andre came back satisfied with three or four prey dragged behind his horse, only to find Li Xi standing alone at the exit, which surprised him.
“No,” Li Xi yawned. “Not interested.”
Although he said that, his gaze swept past Andre’s prey.
“The quality of the game this time is very good. It’s rare to have such an opportunity. It would be a pity to return empty-handed.” Andre approached. “How about I give you one?”
“Who said I’m going back empty-handed?” Li Xi glanced disdainfully at the person Andre had dragged over with his whip.
“Is it that guy Soren…?” Andre frowned.
“It has nothing to do with him,” Li Xi replied impatiently.
Lately, he had been feeling like he had forgotten something, but no matter how much he recalled or asked others, he got no answers. So, his mood wasn’t very pleasant. That’s why his elder brother suggested he go hunting with members of other affiliated families to change his mood.
Thinking of the special prey he had seen today, Li Xi’s heart stirred, and his feeling of boredom inexplicably dissipated a bit.
Soren returned on horseback, with only one person behind him.
Andre mocked, “Just this?”
“This is enough.” Soren smiled faintly.
The person behind him kept their head down, covered in dirt and crushed leaves, as if they had been running for quite some time before being caught.
“Wait a moment,” Li Xi frowned.
“Is there more prey coming to us voluntarily?” Andre asked suspiciously.
“Prey doesn’t come voluntarily.” Li Xi smirked. “But attendants do.”
He looked at the person emerging from the forest, a radiant smile appearing on his handsome face. “Let me introduce you. This is my new attendant.”
“What? You took a prey as your attendant?” Andre asked anxiously, jealousy evident in his gaze directed at Duan Zhen. “He’s just a prey… even if he’s outstanding in appearance and demeanor, he’s not worthy of your status!”
“Do I need your permission even to take an attendant?” Li Xi’s smile faded, ignoring Andre and instead saying to Duan Zhen, “Follow me.”
The captured prey would be put into cages and transported back together. Li Xi furrowed his brows, looking at Duan Zhen’s dirty clothes, and said, “You go with them first.”
“Yes,” Duan Zhen turned around and entered the cage with the bound person.
He chose a position near the Soren guy’s prey and glanced at the smart wristband on the person’s wrist.
He had observed others capturing prey while evading. Andre and Soren were both skilled, but capturing the leader of a small team was obviously not enough. This meant that this person was deliberately caught for information.
Duan Zhen remained silent. Through his probing, he knew that the two men had very sensitive hearing, and even their weapons emitted a faint light during attacks, causing harm to anyone in its path.
This was likely not a simple Western country background.
Sitting in the cage, the other three prey were ragged, huddling together and shivering, murmuring something incomprehensible. Duan Zhen glanced outside, making sure the three people on the other side weren’t looking, before lightly tapping the shoulder of the person beside him and mouthing, “Cooperate?”
After about two sticks of incense had burned, they passed through a city gate. Inside the gate was an incredibly bustling city, appearing more advanced than the Middle Ages. The streets were clean, and stone and wooden buildings intermingled. Many young women covered their faces with fans or handkerchiefs, sneaking glances at this side.
Duan Zhen could sense that their focus was on Li Xi.
He also looked over, and from this angle, he could only see the slender back of the youth lazily sitting on the horseback, with straight, slender legs outlined by the riding boots.
For some reason, he felt like looking at a child that had grown up.
At a crossroads, Soren bid farewell with his prey first, then Andre left from the other side.
“Get off, we’re almost there,” Li Xi dismounted, surveying Duan Zhen standing beside him, furrowing his brows. “Stand further away, you’re too dirty.”
Duan Zhen obediently stepped back.
They eventually arrived at what could now be called a mansion. Upon entering the gates, the first thing that caught the eye was a courtyard that seemed to stretch endlessly. A middle-aged man with a kind face approached, taking the reins from Li Xi’s hand. “Lord Hewlett is waiting for you in the dining hall.”
“This is my newly acquired attendant. Take him to bathe and change into clean clothes, then send him to my room.” Li Xi nodded, pushing Duan Zhen out.
“Yes, sir,” the steward nodded.
Duan Zhen had just heard Hewlett’s name, and his pupils constricted, but he could only suppress his unease for now and walk with the steward to the other side.
“You were brought back from the hunting grounds by Lord Lance. It’s a great honor for Lord Lance to take you as his attendant. Recognize your identity.” Once away from Li Xi, the steward immediately changed his tone, scrutinizing Duan Zhen critically. “You still have a presentable demeanor.”
“I will serve Lord Lance to the best of my ability.” Duan Zhen took the opportunity to inquire about information. “But I come from humble origins and am not familiar with the situation here. I’m afraid of offending the lords.”
The steward gave Duan Zhen a skeptical glance but didn’t see anything unusual. He nodded. “You’re right. I’ll have someone explain the rules of the ducal mansion to you.”
The duke… Duan Zhen’s expression shifted.
After changing into a black attendant’s uniform, he also obtained the information he wanted from a nearby servant.
Here, Li Xi’s identity was the second son of the duke, Lance Philotte. Hewlett was the eldest son of the duke and the heir. And the duke himself was not in the ducal mansion at the moment; apparently, he had received a summons from the king a few months ago and had gone to the royal capital.
The two people who accompanied Li Xi today were peers from affiliated families, and according to the steward, they were just there to save face and shouldn’t be taken too seriously.
“The duke dotes on Lord Lance greatly.” The servant said, “If not for the sake of Lord Lance… he wouldn’t have been unable to return for several months on orders from the king.”
He spoke vaguely in the middle, and Duan Zhen furrowed his brows. “What’s wrong with Lord Lance?”
“In any case, don’t mention his eyes in front of Lord Lance.” The servant avoided the topic.
What’s wrong with Li Xi’s eyes? Duan Zhen’s heart tightened slightly, but then he thought it should be part of the game’s setting and relaxed.
“Lord Lance requests your presence in his room.” The servant led him to a door and pushed it open. “Go in, and without Lord Lance’s orders, do not come out.”
As the night grew deeper, Duan Zhen entered the room. Turning to look at the servant, he found the figure obscured in the shadows, giving off an eerie vibe. The darkness seemed thick and oppressive, as if something could emerge from it at any moment.
The servant’s voice became distorted. “Wa…it…here…for…Lord Lance…”
With that, he slammed the door shut, leaving Duan Zhen trapped in the darkness.
Author’s note:
In this world, some of Li Xiao Xi’s background will be revealed. Also, to prevent confusion, I’ll let everyone know in advance that Li Xiao Xi’s real name is Lance Senafel Philotte. Philotte is his surname.
Yikes that ending was kinda creepy lol Also, Hewlett is definitely involved as it seems I wonder if it’s because Li Xi interfered in the previous instance or if Clemens roped him into it…
Thank you for reading
The evening sky was ablaze with red, and the setting sun's light made the chestnut-colored horse even more vivid.Philotte, didn't you go hunting? Andre came back satisfied with three or four prey dragged behind his horse, only to find Li Xi standing alone at the exit, which surprised him.No, Li Xi yawned. Not interested.Although he said that, his gaze swept past Andre's prey.The quality of the game this time is very good. It's rare to have such an opportunity. It would be a pity to return empty-handed. Andre approached. How about I give you one?Who said I'm going back empty-handed? Li Xi glanced disdainfully at the person Andre had dragged over with his whip.Is it that guy Soren? Andre frowned.It has nothing to do with him, Li Xi replied impatiently.Lately, he had been feeling like he had forgotten something, but no matter how much he recalled or asked others, he got no answers. So, his mood wasn't very pleasant. That's why his elder brother suggested he go hunting with members of other affiliated families to change his mood.Thinking of the special prey he had seen today, Li Xi's heart stirred, and his feeling of boredom inexplicably dissipated a bit.Soren returned on horseback, with only one person behind him.Andre mocked, Just this?This is enough. Soren smiled faintly.The person behind him kept their head down, covered in dirt and crushed leaves, as if they had been running for quite some time before being caught.Wait a moment, Li Xi frowned.Is there more prey coming to us voluntarily? Andre asked suspiciously.Prey doesn't come voluntarily. Li Xi smirked. But attendants do.He looked at the person emerging from the forest, a radiant smile appearing on his handsome face. Let me introduce you. This is my new attendant.What? You took a prey as your attendant? Andre asked anxiously, jealousy evident in his gaze directed at Duan Zhen. He's just a prey even if he's outstanding in appearance and demeanor, he's not worthy of your status!Do I need your permission even to take an attendant? Li Xi's smile faded, ignoring Andre and instead saying to Duan Zhen, Follow me.The captured prey would be put into cages and transported back together. Li Xi furrowed his brows, looking at Duan Zhen's dirty clothes, and said, You go with them first.Yes, Duan Zhen turned around and entered the cage with the bound person.He chose a position near the Soren guy's prey and glanced at the smart wristband on the person's wrist.He had observed others capturing prey while evading. Andre and Soren were both skilled, but capturing the leader of a small team was obviously not enough. This meant that this person was deliberately caught for information.Duan Zhen remained silent. Through his probing, he knew that the two men had very sensitive hearing, and even their weapons emitted a faint light during attacks, causing harm to anyone in its path.This was likely not a simple Western country background.Sitting in the cage, the other three prey were ragged, huddling together and shivering, murmuring something incomprehensible. Duan Zhen glanced outside, making sure the three people on the other side weren't looking, before lightly tapping the shoulder of the person beside him and mouthing, Cooperate?After about two sticks of incense had burned, they passed through a city gate. Inside the gate was an incredibly bustling city, appearing more advanced than the Middle Ages. The streets were clean, and stone and wooden buildings intermingled. Many young women covered their faces with fans or handkerchiefs, sneaking glances at this side.Duan Zhen could sense that their focus was on Li Xi.He also looked over, and from this angle, he could only see the slender back of the youth lazily sitting on the horseback, with straight, slender legs outlined by the riding boots.For some reason, he felt like looking at a child that had grown up.At a crossroads, Soren bid farewell with his prey first, then Andre left from the other side.Get off, we're almost there, Li Xi dismounted, surveying Duan Zhen standing beside him, furrowing his brows. Stand further away, you're too dirty.Duan Zhen obediently stepped back.They eventually arrived at what could now be called a mansion. Upon entering the gates, the first thing that caught the eye was a courtyard that seemed to stretch endlessly. A middle-aged man with a kind face approached, taking the reins from Li Xi's hand. Lord Hewlett is waiting for you in the dining hall.This is my newly acquired attendant. Take him to bathe and change into clean clothes, then send him to my room. Li Xi nodded, pushing Duan Zhen out.Yes, sir, the steward nodded.Duan Zhen had just heard Hewlett's name, and his pupils constricted, but he could only suppress his unease for now and walk with the steward to the other side.You were brought back from the hunting grounds by Lord Lance. It's a great honor for Lord Lance to take you as his attendant. Recognize your identity. Once away from Li Xi, the steward immediately changed his tone, scrutinizing Duan Zhen critically. You still have a presentable demeanor.I will serve Lord Lance to the best of my ability. Duan Zhen took the opportunity to inquire about information. But I come from humble origins and am not familiar with the situation here. I'm afraid of offending the lords.The steward gave Duan Zhen a skeptical glance but didn't see anything unusual. He nodded. You're right. I'll have someone explain the rules of the ducal mansion to you.The duke Duan Zhen's expression shifted.After changing into a black attendant's uniform, he also obtained the information he wanted from a nearby servant.Here, Li Xi's identity was the second son of the duke, Lance Philotte. Hewlett was the eldest son of the duke and the heir. And the duke himself was not in the ducal mansion at the moment; apparently, he had received a summons from the king a few months ago and had gone to the royal capital.The two people who accompanied Li Xi today were peers from affiliated families, and according to the steward, they were just there to save face and shouldn't be taken too seriously.The duke dotes on Lord Lance greatly. The servant said, If not for the sake of Lord Lance he wouldn't have been unable to return for several months on orders from the king.He spoke vaguely in the middle, and Duan Zhen furrowed his brows. What's wrong with Lord Lance?In any case, don't mention his eyes in front of Lord Lance. The servant avoided the topic.What's wrong with Li Xi's eyes? Duan Zhen's heart tightened slightly, but then he thought it should be part of the game's setting and relaxed.Lord Lance requests your presence in his room. The servant led him to a door and pushed it open. Go in, and without Lord Lance's orders, do not come out.As the night grew deeper, Duan Zhen entered the room. Turning to look at the servant, he found the figure obscured in the shadows, giving off an eerie vibe. The darkness seemed thick and oppressive, as if something could emerge from it at any moment.The servant's voice became distorted. WaithereforLord LanceWith that, he slammed the door shut, leaving Duan Zhen trapped in the darkness.Author's note:In this world, some of Li Xiao Xi's background will be revealed. Also, to prevent confusion, I'll let everyone know in advance that Li Xiao Xi's real name is Lance Senafel Philotte. Philotte is his surname.Yikes that ending was kinda creepy lol Also, Hewlett is definitely involved as it seems I wonder if it's because Li Xi interfered in the previous instance or if Clemens roped him into itThank you for reading
